Riot Act - Elvis Costello, The Attractions

Forever doesn’t mean forever anymore, I said forever

But it doesn’t look like I’m gonna be around much anymore

When the heat gets sub-tropical and the talk gets so topical

Riot act, you can read me the riot act

You can make me a matter of fact or a villain in a million

A slip of the tongue is gonna keep me civilian

Why do you talk such stupid nonsense

When my mind could rest much easier

Instead of all this dumb dumb insolence

I would be happier with amnesia

They say forget her

Now it looks like you’re either gonna be before me or against me

I got your letter

Now they say I don’t care for the color that it paints me

Trying to be so bad is bad enough

Don’t make me laugh by talking tough

Don’t put your heart out on your sleeve

When your remarks are off the cuff

Riot act, you can read me the riot act

You can make me a matter of fact or a villain in a million

A slip of the tongue is gonna keep me civilian

Riot act, you can read me the riot act

You can make me